Noun Phrases

What are noun phrases?

Noun phrases (grouping together a collection of words to act as one noun) are one of the keystones of academic writing.

Noun phrase is making the meaning of a noun more precise from the words immediately before (pre-modifying words) or after (post-modifying) it.

Two Types:

Pre-modifying words are articles, quantifiers, adjectives and nouns.
Post-modifying words are prepositional phrases and noun clauses.

Noun Phrases Video

An overview of noun phrases

Video Worksheet – click here

Noun phrases downloads:

Noun Phrases Worksheet 1 (basic)

This lesson highlights what noun phrases are and provides valuable practice. It focuses on the key concepts of quantifiers, adjectives and nouns, noun + noun, noun + preposition and noun phrase combinations (see example). Level ***** [B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Noun Phrases Worksheet 2 (detailed)

This lesson is designed to help students write more concisely by using noun phrases. It takes students through a whole range of tasks including noticing the language in context, eight guided practice tasks and five freer practice activities. There’s a language review sheet included too. (see example). Level ***** [B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

1. Quantifiers

Choose the correct word:

All, both, every, many, much, some, few, little, any, either, neither, none, each.

i. Each / any / every of the buildings is surrounded by high security fencing.

ii. Every / both / much of the proposed bills were refused by the public.

i. Each / any / every of the buildings is surrounded by high security fencing.

ii. Every / both / much of the proposed bills were refused by the public.

For a detailed worksheet and more exercises – buy the noun phrases download below.

2. Adjective + Nouns

Identify the adjective + noun form:

Example:An experiment done on a small scale = a small-scale experiment.

I. Unemployment over a long term can affect a person’s mental health.

___________________________________________________________________________

ii. An element of pay that is led by performance can be appropriate in some professions.

___________________________________________________________________________

i. Long-term unemployment

ii. Performance-led pay

3. Noun + Noun

Identify the noun + noun form:

Example:Gas that comes from Shale = Shale gas

i. Systems that are used for defence: ________________________________________________

ii. A manager who is in charge of accounts: ________________________________________

i. defence system

ii. accounts manager

4. Noun + Preposition Phrases

Put in the correct preposition:

Example: Public protests can sometimes lead to a change in the law.

i. A majority of those taking part expressed a preference_________ the conservative electoral system.

ii. Sustainable development should form the basis________ a corporate vision of the future.

i. preference for

ii. basis for

5. Noun + Noun Clauses

The fact [noun] that the enquiry raises a number of serious issues [+ noun clause] should surprise no one.

Put the underlined words into the correct order:

i. Wilson (2019) has hypothesis Mars criticized that the is able to sustain life.

___________________________________________________________________________

ii. Smith (2018) argues view that the there problems are against with the data system.

___________________________________________________________________________

i.Wilson (2019) has criticized the hypothesis that Mars is able to sustain life.

ii. Smith (2018) argues against the view that there are problems with the data system.

Common nouns used in noun + noun clauses:

argument / announcement / assumption / belief / claim / conclusion / disposition / doubt / fact / effect / idea / possibility / proposition / view / warning /

Advertisement: Amazon Prime - 30 day free trial.

Noun phrases downloads:

Noun Phrases Worksheet 1 (basic)

This lesson highlights what noun phrases are and provides valuable practice. It focuses on the key concepts of quantifiers, adjectives and nouns, noun + noun, noun + preposition and noun phrase combinations (see example). Level ***** [B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Noun Phrases Worksheet 2 (detailed)

This lesson is designed to help students write more concisely by using noun phrases. It takes students through a whole range of tasks including noticing the language in context, eight guided practice tasks and five freer practice activities. There’s a language review sheet included too. (see example). Level ***** [B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

More grammar and vocabulary downloads...

Causes, Effects & Related Language

This lesson helps improve students' awareness of cause and effect language. It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. (see worksheet example) Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] / Webpage link. / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Comparatives & Superlatives

This lesson helps improve students' awareness of compare and contrast language. It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. (see worksheet example) Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] / Webpage link. / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Compare & contrast: comparatives and superlatives [new 2020]

Academic Conditionals [revised 2022]

This lesson helps improve students' awareness of conditionals. It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. (see worksheet example) Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Countable and uncountable nouns [new 2021]

This lesson helps improve students' awareness of countable & uncountable nouns. It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. (see worksheet example Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Modal Auxiliary Verbs [new 2021]

This lesson helps improve students' awareness of modal verbs. It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. (see worksheet example) Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Nominalisation (verbs / adjectives to nouns) [updated 2022]

An introduction to nominalisation. This worksheet shows the basics of nominalising, practises changing verbs and adjectives to nouns, and includes four exercises from guided practice through to freer practice. Very good writing practice activity with a fair amount of challenge for all levels. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] Example TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Noun Phrases Worksheet 1

This lesson highlights what noun phrases are and provides valuable practice. It focuses on the key concepts of quantifiers, adjectives and nouns, noun + noun, noun + preposition and noun phrase combinations (example). Level ***** [B2/C1] / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Noun Phrases Worksheet 2

This lesson is designed to help students write more concisely by using noun phrases. It takes students through a whole range of tasks including noticing the language in context, eight guided practice tasks and five freer practice activities. There's a language review sheet included too. (see example). Level ***** [B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Academic Passive Structures & Nominalisation

An introduction to the impersonal passive structure 'it is said that...' , to infinitive passive form ' it is claimed to be...'. and how to nominalise verbs to nouns to show formality in writing. This worksheet provides key information and 10 writing questions (example). Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Relative clauses: defining & non-defining clauses [new 2020]

This lesson is to support students in their understanding and use of defining & non-defining relative clauses.The lesson includes four tasks of guided practice and two tasks of freer practice (see worksheet example) Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]. / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Sentence Structure 1: Simple, compound, complex & complex compound

This lesson is to support students in their understanding and practice of the four types of sentence structures: simple, compound, complex and complex-compound. It includes noticing, guided and freer practice. (see worksheet example) Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]. / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Sentence Structure 2: Fragment, run-on & comma splice sentences

This lesson helps improve students' sentence structure through identifying and practising fragments, run-ons and comma splice sentences. It includes noticing, guided and freer practice. (see worksheet example) Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]./ TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Sentence Structure 3: Complex sentence structure (STEM) [new 2022]

This lesson is to support students in their understanding and practice of complex sentence structure. The worksheets focus on three structures: adverbial, adjective and noun clauses and contain key explanations and sentence and paragraph-level practice within a STEM context (see worksheet example) Time: 90mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Tense Review (3 lessons: analysis, gap fill, speaking)

This is a great lesson to introduce / revise English Tenses. Lesson 1: students discuss a number of sentences & identify the tense & reason for use. Give out Tense handout (here) to consolidate. Lesson 2: tense review gap fill. Lesson 3: speaking exercise with lots of questions using the tenses. Example Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Verb Patterns [new 2021]

This lesson helps improve students' awareness of verb patterns (verb + infinitive, verb + to infinitive, verb + gerund, verb + that clause, verb + wh-clause) . It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. see worksheet example Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP